Workmen's advocate., 1887-01-22
T0'STUR FIX PEPPERS.
SECRETARY LEE CONSIDERS
 THE RETAILERS.
A SOcial.DemOcratic View of the StOrekeepers' Position Forced Into the PrOletariat.
 What They May Gain
 By Socialism,.

A lllnelN artlCle Ill a recent num- Der of London J1Mtice, by II. w. Lee, secretary of the cial-Demo- cratic Federation, brings home to the retail storekeepers a hard and incontrovcrtible fact, which should set them to thinking seriously upon their future position in society. He says:
 "It is a sign of the times that a class of people who have hitherto held aloOf from the Social-Demo- cratic movement--the shopkeepers are beginning to interest them selves in onr action, and seem dis posed to look upon us more favor ably than heretofore. Naturally the one point they wish us to make clear to them is. "What is your position as regards cooperative stores:' The reason of this is of course, not far to seek. The change which has been and is taking place in the methods of production, entailing the usage of larger machinery and q greater subdivision of labor, has crushed out the small factory owners for the benefit of the large companies; and similar change is going on in the distribution of goods, where trades men are busted by the combinations of capitalists in the form of cooper ative stores. This drives straight home to the shopkeeping class the stern fact that these economical changes but render more chimerical the prospect of q handsome compe- tency with which to provide for their children, and in the enjoyment of which they had hoped to peace fully end their days. They are con- fronted instead by the terrible night mare of failure and bankruptcy. They see their sons and daughters compelled to seek employment as clerks or assistants, "lady-hel ps, or governesses, in the offices and houses of those who, perhaps, hay, ing been less scrupulous in the mad rush for gain, have been more sue cessful, but whose very success in the struggle has embittered their feelings and made them more in clined to treat those beneath them as mere protit-making machines.
 ''rhe shopkeepers must thorough ly understand this question. It is of no use whatever inveighing against cooperative stores. They are an economical necessity, being, like the large factories. the outcome of the competitive system; and the useful distribution of goods can be carried on infinitely better and with far less labor by means of such large centres than by numerous small shops of the same class, half a dozen doors apart, competing with each other. These very forms which now, because owned by a profit mongering class, who receive their dividends without even the pretence of "organizing" labor, oppress the majority of the population, will be- come blessings when the workers once make up their minds to take their own. This is one of the prin- cipal foundations of the scientific faith which is within us.
 "Therefore, let the shopkeepers carefully consider these matters. They know perfectly well that their position is daily becoming more and more insecure; they are aware of the prospect that looms before them they can tell the future which awaits their children. Would not a few hours daily labor in municipal or communal distributive store be pref erable to the many idle but anxious hours spent in their shops to which few customers come because of the competition of other shops, and above all of the large emporiums That is a question they must answer for themselves. If they will but throw aside their prejudiees-which